Can't post pics but try this one out , use CDC in any downwing dry fly imitation of the wing. For example tie an Elk Hair Caddis and substitute CDC for the elk hair wing. This works real well for caddis , stonefly , any downwing pattern in small sizes especially. When they get waterlogged a shake or two in powder/crystal floatent will bring it back to life.

I think it is funny that every time CDC comes up people will tell you how it floats like a cork, and then immediately tell you to use pixie dust. CDC really doesn’t float that much better than any other material. It has a large surface area relative to its density, so it does float well, but once the fibers get slimed it’s useless. And because of that large surface area, they get slimed much more effectively than a rooster hackle. The dust dries out the slime, but that’s just temporary. The Troth EHC floats just as well, and just needs an occasional false cast to dry it out. But CDC is a great material and has its place. I do use the CDC and Elk caddis, but here I think you get the full benefit of CDC, and that is lifelike movement. The stray fibers that increase as you wind the CDC feather towards the front of the fly create a leggy chaotic halo on the water that seems to be attractive to fish. I’ve incorporated sparse CDC into ant and beetle patterns to try and get the same sort of effect. The only pattern I like that relies on CDC for floatation is the loop wing emerger. Here I also think that the look of the CDC is important. Trailing fibers create an illusion of movement and the loop catches air and looks shiny and shuck-like. I do wind up replacing these flies often, but they are simple ties and work well enough that it is worth it. If I ever start a business I want to hire the marketing team behind CDC.Mike.

CDC=cul de cannard , french for a ducks a-hole , there is a gland there that excretes stuff that ducks use to preen and waterproof their feathers. Since these feathers are right there where the gland is the get the "stuff" all over them thus making them extra waterproof ..... at least that's the theory. I said i like CDC for tying downwing flies but i also made a point to say especially the small ones. As a wing on a 20 or smaller caddis , stonefly , etc. i think they are not only great floaters but much easier to tie than trying to stack an elk hair wing to fit a #24 fly , and the powder floatant barring something else happening to the fly will keep it floating all day , when a regular EHC gets waterlogged the powder floatant also works great on those too.

osprey wrote:CDC=cul de cannard , french for a ducks a-hole , there is a gland there that excretes stuff that ducks use to preen and waterproof their feathers. Since these feathers are right there where the gland is the get the "stuff" all over them thus making them extra waterproof ..... at least that's the theory. .

Yeah, people will say that, but unless you are pulling the CDC off the duck any preen oil is long gone. The feathers are not waterproof, they just have a very large surface area with all the fibers branching off in a fractal fashion. (As an aside, waterproof does not equal floatation. It is almost all about surface area realtive to density. You can make a boat out of lead afterall).Here is a nice artitcle by Hans Weilenmann that covers the oil topic and other ins and outs of CDC and also has some nice patterns: http://globalflyfisher.com/tiebetter/tying-with-cdc/I still think it's all marketing,Mike.

FrequentTyer wrote:I think it is funny that every time CDC comes up people will tell you how it floats like a cork, and then immediately tell you to use pixie dust. CDC really doesn’t float that much better than any other material. It has a large surface area relative to its density, so it does float well, but once the fibers get slimed it’s useless. And because of that large surface area, they get slimed much more effectively than a rooster hackle. The dust dries out the slime, but that’s just temporary. The Troth EHC floats just as well, and just needs an occasional false cast to dry it out. But CDC is a great material and has its place. I do use the CDC and Elk caddis, but here I think you get the full benefit of CDC, and that is lifelike movement. The stray fibers that increase as you wind the CDC feather towards the front of the fly create a leggy chaotic halo on the water that seems to be attractive to fish. I’ve incorporated sparse CDC into ant and beetle patterns to try and get the same sort of effect. The only pattern I like that relies on CDC for floatation is the loop wing emerger. Here I also think that the look of the CDC is important. Trailing fibers create an illusion of movement and the loop catches air and looks shiny and shuck-like. I do wind up replacing these flies often, but they are simple ties and work well enough that it is worth it. If I ever start a business I want to hire the marketing team behind CDC.Mike.

Good post. I've reached many of the same conclusions about CDC as FT did, above.

BTW, the CDC and Elk is a great caddis pattern (and can imiate a mayflies too). Very simple to tie using two materials, and it works well.

Here's my CDC and Elk Caddis. Tied on a Klinkhammer hook with a hot flash butt. I use Umpqua olive barred CDC. This one is a 12 for photo purposes but I'll tie them down in the 16-18 range and they work great.

dubthethorax wrote:Here's my CDC and Elk Caddis. Tied on a Klinkhammer hook with a hot flash butt. I use Umpqua olive barred CDC. This one is a 12 for photo purposes but I'll tie them down in the 16-18 range and they work great.

Dub, nice fly! I like it, yep gonna tie it. Thanks.

Posted on: 2013/3/5 20:25

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